Magneto-electric machine.



J. B. FRAWLEY. MAGNETO ELECTHlC MACHINE. APPuc/Tlon msn JAN a1 19 1,160,995. r Patented Nov'. 1@ 1915.

A TTORNEYJ 'UNTED STATES i'herriaNT onirica.

JAMES B. FRAWLEY, 0F PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 PITTSFIEIJD SPARK COIL COMPANY, 0F PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

,MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION or MAGNE'ro-ELEctrmc MACHINE.

on May24, 1910, numbered 958,754, in which a movable sleeve member is interposed Abetween the pole-pieces of the permanent magnets and the soft iron laminated core-pieces which stand in a plane at right angles to the plane of the soft iron pole-pieces. fThe pres- 'ent invention has for its object to dispense with this movable sleeve member, whereby the eiiiciency of the machine is materially increased.

A further. object of the invention is to lessen the demagnetizing effect of eddy currents which are produced in the non-magnetic members that Support the laminated core-pieces.

In magnetos of the type shown in the above referred torpatents, particularly 'patent numbered 943,097 December' 21,1909, (in which the sleeve member is adjustable) the .occurrence of the spark may be varied; r,

in other words'the spark may be advanced or retarded with'relation to the angularfposition of'the shaft.

It is sometimes desirable to use ignition machines in which the occurrence of the spark, with relatiom to the angular position of the inductor, is' or may be always fixed. In order to accomplish this object, it is found that the sleeve member may be entirely omitted without destroying the efficiency of the machine. In practice, however, it is discovered that the eiiiciency is.

materially increased over the structures shown in the above mentioned patents. The removal of this sleeve member therefore Causes the machine to produce a spark at Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 31, 1912. Serial N o. 674,520.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

r lili'h' practically the same angular'positionof the rotatable inductor element, and at the same time lessen the cost of construction and increase its efhciency.

In order to accomplish the objects above Vset forth, Ihave discovered that by electrically insulating the interrupter boX or casing from the core-pieces, the pole-pieces, and the holders of the pole-pieces, that the flow of eddy currents which are generated in the casing or interruptor boX is prevented, and thereby greatlyV increasing the out-put or efficiency of the machine as will be fully set forth. 1

In the drawings forming part of this application,-Figure 1A is a longitudinal, sectional view of the magneto on the line 1-1, of Fig. 2, taken through the axis of the inductor shaft, clearly showing the machine with the movable sleeve member omitted,

and the electrical insulation element located Y between the interrupter casing and the corepieces. Fig.A 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the poles of the permanent magnets and those of the Soft iron laminated core-pieces; also the rotating inductor member carried by the shaft.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, a

. designates the permanent ield magnets hav' ing the soft iron pole or face pieces b, and

. b pieces of brass to support the laminated core-pieces e.

c designates ashaft upon which are secured the soft iron arc-shaped inductor members CZ. The laminated corelpieces are arranged at 90O from the pole-pieces b. The former pieces extend parallel with the shaft c, as shown in Fig. l and as in the above referred to patents,ltheir outer ends are con nected by the core 7' of theinduction coil which is designated as a whole by th'e letter Qu-the primary and secondary windings of which are shown at hand z'.

The electrical connections tothe two l windings of the inductor coils are not shown as they do not form any part of the present invention.

The arc-shaped inductor members d 'are breaker box o.

the rotating shaft.

Suitable timing devices maybe employed in connection with the usual make and break mechanism which are operated by the cam m whereby the occurr'ence of the spark in the secondary may be advanced or retarded.

The induction coil g is axially spaced from the soft iron arc-shaped ind-uctor members d by means of the interrupter casing. This casing is electrically insulated from the pole-pieces b and its holders b by means of the insulation shcwn at o. The object and purpose of the insulation o is t0 prevent the flow'of electric currentsin the pole-pieces b, and its holder b due to the potential of the eddy currents generated in the casing or It is clear that when the laminated inductor members d are rotated, the casing or breaker box o will be subjectedl to an yalternating magnetic flux from one core member e to the other. This alternating iiux will generate eddy currents in .the metal casing box o and, if the box is not insulated from the pole-pieces b and their holders b they will iow through these parts with a result that a magnetic field, due to these currents, will be set up which will 4oppose the How of the magnetic iiux in the core-pieces e, or, in other` words by the usel of the insulation o', eddy currents will not be permitted to iiow from the casing `o through the pole pieces Z) and their holders b which currents would setup acounter magnetic field that would opposethe iiux in the core-pieces e and thus lessen the eiiiciency of the machine. The iiux path for the magnetic lines of force will, therefore, be largely confined to the parts d, e and f, the iux owing in'alternate directions, as the arc-shaped members d are rotated in succession past the north and south poles of the magnet a: Also the pieces b are maintained in a cooler condition as eddy currents can not circulate through the pieces of insulation o. This construction produces an increased eiiiciency over the construction shown in the above mentioned patents wherein the adjustable sleeve is used, as it cuts down theair gaps and also reduces the losses caused by eddy currents in the masses of iron composing the adjustable sleeve.

The means for distributing and delivering the seconda-ry current to the spark plugs by the magneto forms no part of my invention and the description of the same is not therefore included.

In the operation of the machine, when the shaft a is rotated, the soft iron members d pass in succession past the members Z) and e a mauent magnets a to the core-pieces e in the manner fuily described in the above referred to patents, with the result that a spark current is induced in the secondary winding z' when the primary is opened by the timer in the usual manner. v

It will be noticed that the soft iron arcshaped members d serve to directly convey Ithe magnetic iiux from the permanent magnets a to the poles e without the intervention of the adjustable -sleeve member in the above referred to patents, with the result thatthe spark is always produced at the same time in the secondary or spark circuit corresponding to the same angular position of the shaft each time a spark is produced; or, in other words, the spark isa xed one and not an vadjustable one, as inthe above referred to patents; but of course, a suitable timing device may be employed to advance 4or retard the spark, if desirable. The projecting outer ends of the pole-pieces e serve to receive the induction coil g which is made removable for repairs or break downs. This construction limits and conlnes the magnetic flux field to this portion of the machine that is spaced away from the permanent magnets and also serves to increase the efciency of the machine.

l. A magneto-electric machine of the inductor alternator type, in combination, a field magnet, a pair of core-pieces, non-magnetic means to support the same, inductor members to convey the magnetic linx from the lield magnet to the core-pieces, said corepieces having projecting ends, an induction coil located between said ends, a timer casing device located between the core-pieces, means to electrically insulate the timer casingv from the core-pieces, whereby the eddy currents that may be generated in the timer casing will be prevented from owing in a closed electric circuit through-the core pieces and oppose the flow of flux from the permanent field through the core-pieces, as described.

2. Almagneto electric machine of the type describe/(Lin combination, permanent Vmagnets to produce a constant field, core-pieces tov receive the iux from the permanent magnets, an induction coil arranged4 between the ends of the core-pieces, inductor means to directly and alternately convey the fiux from the constant eld to the core-pieces, a timer casing located between the core-pieces, means to confine the eddy currents that are generated in the timer casing to the same, whereby the demagnetizing effects due to eddy currents in the timer casing is prevented.

3. The combination, in a magneto electric machine, of a rotatable inductor member, permanent magnets, pole-pieces secured l thereto, core-pieces anguiarly spaced from ated in said casing may be conned thereto,

the pole-pieces, holders therefor, an inducas described, and the magnetic uX in the tion coil having its core located between the core-pieces is maintained at a constant value. 1u

ends of the core-pieces, an interrupter or JAMES B. FRAWLEY. circuit breaker casing located between lthe Witnesses:

core-pieces,l means for insulating said casing HARRY W. BOWEN,

whereby the eddy currents that are gener- FRANKLIN G. NEAL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, Il. C. 

